Brendan Schaub poses for a portrait on March 17, 2010, at Easton Brazilian Jiu-jitsu in Denver. (Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post)

MMA fighter Brendan Schaub had some harsh words to say about the UFC’s firing of cutman Jacob “Stitch” Duran in the latest episode of his podcast, “The Fighter & the Kid.”

Duran announced via Twitter Tuesday that he was dismissed from the UFC after he spoke out about how the Reebok deal hurt his income in an interview with Bloody Elbow on Tuesday. Schaub, who played football at Overland High School and the University of Colorado, blasted his fighting promotion for the move, calling the UFC a “bully.”

“There’s kind of an unspoken rule where if you’re unpleased with what’s going on in the UFC, especially if you don’t have a name, man, you do not want to do interviews and come out,” Schaub said. “Look at Stitch.

“Stitch barely said anything. Gone.”

UFC announced in December 2014 that it signed a deal to exclusively have its fighters and their corners wear Reebok gear. Fighters, as well as their cornermen, have historically relied on sponsors to supplement their incomes.

@daej81 You will be the first to know that the UFC just let me go because I spoke out about the Reebok deal. Got to look for a new job!

MMA fighter Michelle Waterson broke her hand during her UFC debut on July 12, she tweeted Wednesday.

The Colorado native suffered the injury in her strawweight victory over Angela Magana on The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale card. Waterson, 29, won with a rear-naked choke 2 minutes and 38 seconds into the third round.

“For those of you wondering, I broke my hand during the fight so I’ll be in this cast for 6 weeks,” she wrote on Instagram.

Waterson improved her record to 13-4 with the win. She is ranked No. 10 in UFC’s women’s strawweight division rankings.

This handout screengrab made and released on July 19, 2015 by the World Surf League (WSL) shows Australian surfer Mick Fanning being attacked by a shark during the Final of the JBay surf Open on Sunday July 19, 2015 in Jeffreys Bay. (WSL, AFP via Getty Images)

Scary moment for Australian surfer Mick Fanning at World Surf League’s J-Bay Open final in South Africa Sunday.

The 34-year-old was sitting on his board when a shark attacked him (Watch the video). Luckily, he escaped unharmed. Finalist Julian Wilson was also in the water, but both surfers were picked up by nearby safety boats.

WSL cancelled the event after the shark attack and released this statement:

“We are incredibly grateful that no one was seriously injured today. Mick’s composure and quick acting in the face of a terrifying situation was nothing short of heroic and the rapid response of our Water Safety personnel was commendable — they are truly world class at what they do.

“The safety of our athletes is a priority for the WSL and, after discussions with both Finalists, we have decided to cancel the remainder of competition at the J-Bay Open. We appreciate the ongoing support we have in South Africa and once again want to express our gratitude to the Water Safety Team.”

“I say this all the time: I’d love to fight tomorrow,” Punk told UFC.com. “But I want to be as prepared as I possibly can be and I will be. I’m still shooting for December. It might be January, I’m not sure. But I’ll be ready when I fight.”

The 36-year-old Punk, whose real name is Phil Brooks, signed with UFC in December 2014 after retiring from a lengthy career in professional wrestling, which included time as the WWE World Heavyweight champion. Since the announcement, he’s been training at Roufusport in Milwaukee.

Punk said he will most likely fight in the 170-pound welterweight division.

“I woke up at 190 this morning, so I could make 185 in a couple of hours if I needed to,” he said to UFC.com. “But I think fighting at 185 would probably be a bad idea. Those guys are a lot bigger than me. I think 170 is doable.”

He talked about a variety of factors leading to his departure, from his frustration with the company’s direction to having his ideas taken and repackaged for other wrestlers to not being able to have time to recover from injuries.

Michelle Waterson may be the fresh face in Ultimate Fighting Championship when she makes her promotional debut Sunday, but she’s hardly a newcomer to the sport of mixed martial arts.

Nicknamed “The Karate Hottie” — a moniker that stuck from her days as a 19-year-old Hooters waitress — Waterson was the Invicta FC atomweight champion from April 2013 to December 2014, before losing via a submission hold to Herica Tiburcio.

Waterson, 29, is the latest MMA fighter from Colorado to cross over to the UFC. She moves up 10 pounds to the 115-pound strawweight division when she faces Angela Magana in UFC’s The Ultimate Fighter 21 Finale card Sunday in Las Vegas.

“It’s pretty surreal. I’ve been training really hard so I just try and keep that in the back of my head that I know that this is where I belong and no one is going to take me from my spot,” Waterson (12-4) said in a video interview with UFC Thursday. “Angela’s been fighting as long as I have. I think it’s a great matchup for my first fight in the UFC.”

Cannondale-Garmin riders race over the final section of cobblestones on Stage 4 of the 2015 Tour de France, between Seraing and Cambrai, on July 7, 2015, in Cambrai, France. (Bryn Lennon, Getty Images)

Cannondale-Garmin co-leader Andrew Talansky stayed out of trouble throughout Stage 4 of the Tour de France on Tuesday, using his talent for riding cobblestones to finish just three seconds behind stage winner and yellow jersey holder Tony Martin on what was expected to be a day filled with crashes and mishaps.

Talansky — one of three Americans riding in the Tour — is 2 minutes, 51 seconds in 20th place behind Martin after losing significant time during Stage 2.

“Everyday this first week, seems like there’s opportunities to gain, to lose, or to stay even,” Talansky told VeloNews on Tuesday. “The team rode a great race today for me, and I’m happy to finish up in the front group.”

His teammate Dan Martin wasn’t so lucky. With some 50 kilometers to go, Martin crashed around a tight bend with roads slick from rain along with several other Cannondale-Garmin riders and lay on the ground for an extended period, appearing stuck in pedals before standing up and tending to a compromised bike. Cannondale-Garmin’s team rode furiously to try to get Martin back into the peloton.

William Bonnet of France, Simon Gerrans of Australia, Jose Mendes of Portugal, Greg Henderson of New Zealand and Ramon Sinkeldam of the Netherlands lay on the ground after being involved in a crash with about 31 miles remaining in Stage 3 of the 2015 Tour de France from Anvers to Huy on July 6, 2015, in Huy, Belgium. (Doug Pensinger, Getty Images)

Boulder-based pro cycling team Cannondale-Garmin is facing early adversity in the Tour de France, with race co-leaders Andrew Talansky and Dan Martin more than two minutes back of overall race leader Chris Froome after Stage 3.

The trouble started on Stage 2 from Utrecht to Zelande, when the peloton — riding through a series of roundabouts near Rotterdam in the Netherlands — split, with some riders splitting left, and others right.

Talansky — one of three Americans riding in the Tour — and Martin both went left, where a diesel spill combined with slick roads ultimately led to a crash that caused them to split from the peloton. Heavy winds along the ocean eventually doomed that third group further as they fell off the back fell back by 90 seconds, a delay that also claimed Colombian and pre-race co-favorite Nairo Quintana of Movistar.

“A diesel spill — it’s one of many things you can’t do anything about,” Cannondale-Garmin CEO Jonathan Vaughters told The Denver Post in a phone interview late Monday night about what happened on Stage 2. “Luckily no one got injured. Now, we just have to get creative on how to get that time back.”

Without that loss, Martin and Talansky — sitting at No. 20 (2:06 back) and No. 23 (2:49 back), respectively — likely would be in the top 10 in the overall classification. Their opportunities to regain time on the flatter parts of the Tour are much narrower. Quintana is 17th at 1 minute, 56 seconds behind Froome. American Tejay van Garderen — who lives in Aspen part-time — is third, 13 seconds back.

Now, the riders head into Tuesday’s Stage 4 from Seraing to Cambrai, which features roughly 8.2 miles of cobblestones, an obstacle over which Froome and defending champion Vincenzo Niabli can ride well — as can Talansky.

Matt Stonie poses for photographs after winning Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest men’s competition, Saturday July 4, 2015 in the Coney Island section in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Stonie ate 62 hot dogs and buns in 10 minutes. (Tina Fineberg, The Associated Press)

Stonie, 23, has a long list of accomplishments in his Major League Eating profile, including 14.5 pounds of birthday cake, 101 three-inch tacos, 10.5 pounds of frozen yogurt. Colorado’s own big eater Bryan “Big Sexy” Beard shared with me some thoughts on Stonie during our interview earlier this week:

The one guy that I’m enjoying watching chase Joey is Matt Stonie. They both live in San Jose, Calif.

A couple years ago when he first got into it, I competed with him a couple times. The kid is amazing. It is ridiculous what this kid is doing. And I had the pleasure of sitting next to those two at the cow brain taco eating contest at the zombie pub crawl in Minneapolis a couple years ago. They just thoroughly embarrassed me. I think they were in the 50s and I think I hit, like, 12.

It was cold cow brains. I understand you can get past the taste, but at this point, I’m looking down and I’m seeing its actual form of brain and it’s cold and it doesn’t taste like beef like I thought it was going to.

It was one of those, just pack it up, pack it in because you’re eating with the best two in the world. They came to duel it out.

Matt Stonie defeats Joey Chestnut by eating 62 hot dogs at The Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog-Eating Contest in Coney Island, New York, on July 4, 2015. The contest is an annual Fourth of July tradition. (Andrew Renneisen, Getty Images)

Stonie, 23, has been increasing his numbers yearly since making his Nathan’s debut in 2011, when he consumed 34 hot dogs. Last year, he ate 56, just five behind Chestnut.

Roger Federer of Switzerland plays a shot through the legs during his gentlemen’s singles second round match against Sam Querry of the United States during day four of the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 2, 2015, in London. (Ian Walton, Getty Images)

Add yet another entry into Roger Federer’s extensive highlight reel.

The 33-year-old Swiss Superman casually hit a between-the-legs lob across the baseline in the second set of his match against American Sam Querrey in the second round at Wimbledon on Thursday. Just, just watch:

Four photos of professional competitive eater Bryan “Big Sexy” Beard, one of Colorado’s most celebrated eaters. These were from Biker Jim’s Gourmet Dogs on Larimer Street in downtown Denver on on Nov. 21, 2012. (Cyrus McCrimmon, The Denver Post)

The thrill of victory. The agony of defeat.

And, oh, the meat sweats.

Competitive eating’s grandest stage comes to the forefront Saturday when the annual Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest commences at Coney Island in New York. Joey Chestnut, the undisputed king of the world of gorging, is looking to capture his record ninth straight championship.

Competitors have 10 minutes to consume as many hot dogs as they possibly can. The record, set by Chestnut in 2013, is 69.

Colorado’s own Bryan “Big Sexy” Beard — and his trademark foam blue hat — tried his hand, and stomach, at winning the sought-after mustard yellow belt in 2010. At the time a young rising star in the sport, Beard admitted that he was just happy to be at the event, able to compete in front of a live audience of 50,000 and many more watching on ESPN.

“You are a superstar because they mention you on SportsCenter. This is really the best of the best when it comes to eating hot dogs in the world.”

The now 30-year-old Beard, who is the associate producer of The Drive on 104.3 The Fan, shared his experience with The Denver Post about competing in 2010, as well as thoughts on who he thinks will win this year.

AURORA — Mixed martial arts is more than just a sport for Alex Huddleston. It’s a way of life.

He wakes up in the morning and begins his MMA training. Then his day ends after he finishes teaching his night classes at Bobby Lashley’s American Top Team Altitude martial arts center.

“I literally get up for the gym and I go to bed right after the gym,” Huddleston said. “This is all I do every day. It’s good though. It’s definitely a lifestyle you have to choose to be in.”

The 28-year-old (5-1) recently made his debut in Bellator MMA, winning via a first-round TKO over Derek Bohi last October. He looks to make it 2-for-2 when he takes on Javy Ayala (8-3) Friday at Bellator 139 at Kansas Star Arena in Mulvane, Kan.

“Alex is so religious to the game,” said Lashley, who won his heavyweight bout at Bellator 138 last Friday. “He’s here every day training. … I mean, he’s a 6-7, 260-pound heavyweight that can move like a lightweight, so it’s always a good mix for us to get out there and just move. We can battle, we make each other better.”

More of a striker earlier in his career, Huddleston said he’s been working on his ground game over the past few years.

“If I do make a mistake, and I get taken down, I’m just as strong there as I am on my feet,” he said.

Training with the three-time collegiate champion Lashley and working heavily in improving his jiu jitsu has his sights aimed high.

“I would like to be a world champion in both,” Huddleston said. “I want to be a world champion in MMA and jiu jitsu.”

Martin Truex Jr., driver of the #78 Furniture Row/Visser Precision Chevrolet, stands in the garage area during practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Quicken Loans 400 at Michigan International Speedway on June 12, 2015 in Brooklyn, Mich. (Brian Lawdermilk, Getty Images)

NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr.’s performance has improved by leaps and bounds since last year — and the numbers support it.

Truex, who races for Denver-based Furniture Row Racing, has gained the most spots in points (23) among all drivers from this time last year in the NASCAR Sprint Cup points standings.

The 34-year-old is second in the 2015 points standings with 561, 15 points behind Kevin Harvick. Harvick is seventh on the list, having gained eight spots. Truex has finished in the top 10 in every race but one this year, a contrast to just three at this time last year.

In this June 7, 1996 file photo, newly crowned WBC super lightweight champion Oscar De La Hoya poses with the belt he won from Julio Cesar Chavez by TKO in the fourth round in Las Vegas. DeLaHoya, Felix Trinidad and Joe Calzaghe head the class of 2014 to be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. (Lennox McLendon, AP file)

The last time Oscar De La Hoya fought in a boxing ring, Jay Cutler was still the quarterback for the Denver Broncos.

“It’s got to be worth my while but this is very serious,” De La Hoya told ESPN on Monday. “I have to make sure I am fighting the very best. I don’t have to come back for financial reasons or the lights or the glamour. The only reason I would come back is because I miss the competition of fighting the very best.”

He said he wants to face undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. — who defeated him by split decision in the 2007 bout for the WBC world super welterweight title — or 33-year-old middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin.

This comes less than a week after he posted a video on Instagram in response to Mayweather offering him a rematch, stating that he would not come out of retirement and is focused on running his company, Golden Boy Promotions.

It’s a bout that’s seven years in the making. Back in 2008, it was certainly a draw. Everyone wanted to see how Slice’s skills would translate to the cage. A fight against an aging 44-year-old legend on a five-fight losing streak seemed like a stepping stone for bigger and better things.

In this March 19, 2007, file photo, then-WWE wrestler Bobby Lashley celebrates after defeating Chris Masters during a match at WWE Monday Night Raw in Indianapolis. Lashley is no Brock Lesnar. But the TNA Wrestling heavyweight champion hopes his shift to Bellator can give a boost to both second-tier promotions. Lashley has one of the featured bouts on Friday night when Bellator goes head-to-head on national TV vs. UFC. (Tom Strattman, AP file)

Bobby Lashley is not going to get a rematch with James Thompson. Not yet anyways.

Thompson, who recorded a unanimous decision on Lashley back in 2012, injured himself during training, according to Bellator. The nature of the injury is unknown. Dan Charles will replace Thompson at Bellator 138 on June 19.

“You can get hurt. It’s the nature of the business,” Lashley said. “He’s (Charles) a completely different style.”

Lashley (12-2), who owns the American Top Team Altitude family martial arts center in Aurora, has won his last five matches.

The 29-year-old Charles (9-2) is a 6-2 heavyweight based out of Arizona.